Dodge City ? Dodge City has a new police chief.

The city on Tuesday named Lt. Craig Mellecker, a 26-year police veteran, as the western Kansas city’s new chief, effective immediately.

The Dodge City Daily Globe reports that Mellecker has worked in the detective division since 2001. He had been interim chief since Robin James resigned in December amid allegations that he violated the state’s deer hunting laws.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks investigated whether James had used a spotlight for hunting, and if he had permission to be on the property. Ford County authorities turned the case over to the state attorney general’s office to avoid any possible conflict of interest.